Rinus Otte, CEO at the Public Prosecution Service, finds it ‘astonishing’ that there was support for the suspected perpetrator Richard K. immediately after the double murder in Weiteveen.
“I don’t understand that at all,” Otte said this morning in the TV studio of Rick Nieman at WNL Op Zondag. He is referring to online support that was expressed after Richard K. told his story in a live video on Facebook on Tuesday.
Shortly after two residents of Weiteveen were murdered on Tuesday morning, K. said in the video that ‘something very bad had happened’ and that he would probably go to jail. In the video he says he wanted to protect his family.
The murder was preceded by a year of arguments between K. and the murdered couple about their home, as it later became clear. The house, which had belonged to K., was said to be showing hidden damage. Both parties reported the incident to the police and reported the other party’s actions.
Immediately after the video surfaced, many people on Facebook, among others, stated that they understood K’s action. It bothers the Public Prosecution Service CEO. “A suspect who portrays himself as a victim in a video and then seems to ask for understanding and also seems to receive some understanding, that is astonishing.” Otte believes that people should first wait ‘until the facts are clearer.’
“Then I would say: first wait until we know the facts, but for now determine that someone did something heinous in the presence of a 12-year-old child, the son.” Otte says he has no understanding whatsoever for the fact that people initially responded to K’s video with understanding.
According to the Public Prosecution Service CEO, agencies (police, Public Prosecution Service, courts) must look at what they can do better, but it is not up to citizens to be their own judge.
“In itself, if a heinous crime has been committed, then I have no message whatsoever to citizens or any village that first stands around the person involved. That is just wrong and it is very bad that in the end there seems to be a tilt there “I don’t like that.”